Free-moNebraska

[Mark W]

February is the month of Train Shows in Nebraska.  Based on the shows this year a group of us decided we need to bring Free-moN (and especially N scale) to Nebraska.
We met this weekend to go over some basics and now we're ready to dive in!

So, without further ado, I give you my future inventory:


Marsland, Roca, and the newly re-named Wolf Bridge (story below), along with the 3 one foot wide modules are already built.

The first thing decided for the group is to tackle reverse loops.  I had already planned to build one soon anyway so, why not now? 

I named it the "Middle Loup" because, well it's a loop, and also the "Middle Loup" is a river through Central Nebraska, followed by a rail line of course.
And since Loup was named by a French trapper and translates to "Wolf", we now have Wolf Bridge crossing the Loup River. 

Having unused gift cards for the hardware store, I ended up trucking a whole load of lumber home.  Enough to build Middle Loup, plus 4 more in-betweeners.



I'll be cutting the wood this evening to celebrate the beginning of Free-moNebraska!

[Zox]

Congratulations, from someone whose train club is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year! Getting a starting group together is always the hardest part.

I look forward to seeing many more updates from you...

[Mark W]

So I bought that whole bunch of wood yesterday.  Then my brother, Mr. Craiglist Wizard, scores an entire truck load of premium wood for 30 bucks!
He let me grab all the prime 3/4 and 1/4 and oh-boy are we in business! 

I now have enough material to build the framework for 18, yes Eighteen! new modules!
I spent the afternoon cutting wood with dad and here we go!
 All the end-plates are ripped to 6" with the Middle Loup endplates angle cut.



Here they are all glued-n-screwed with the side frames ready.




Oh man, now I gotta get a boat load of foam!!

[Philip H]

Seems like your brother is pretty good at finding boatloads of building materials . . .

[Mark W]

Well, gotta get that first idea out of the way...

Inside radii of 22.75" and 24" with the outside as the mainline offset to 25.75" radii 

The idea is with some kind of view block to hide the back of the loop, the front will look more like an interchange than a loop.



Lay it on me.  Thoughts?

[packers#1]

Cool idea; is there any way to manipulate the benchwork or trackage so that a single track module could connect to the interchange track? that'd be pretty cool, if a bit cumbersome to walk around

[Mark W]

Version 2.  I switched the interchange to the other side, making sure we don't cross over into "s-load of gaps" territory on the interchange track.  Also allowed me to pull the the turnouts down about another 6-10 inches per siding.   

[C855B]

You planning on hand-laying those crossings with three curved tracks?

Hint - if you're using AnyRail (it looks like you are), allow mixing of track types. For 90° crossings I use Kato for planning, which are essentially just the frog block. Then in the real world I just mod the Atlas 90° to match.

[Mark W]

You planning on hand-laying those crossings with three curved tracks?

Well actually... I am.   

Should have mentioned that earlier. :p

[railnerd]

Version 2.  I switched the interchange to the other side, making sure we don't cross over into "s-load of gaps" territory on the interchange track.  Also allowed me to pull the the turnouts down about another 6-10 inches per siding.   

I like it!  What type of view block are you thinking about for the loop?

-Dave

[Mark W]

Cool idea; is there any way to manipulate the benchwork or trackage so that a single track module could connect to the interchange track? that'd be pretty cool, if a bit cumbersome to walk around

I could make it a functional interchange, but I'd much rather save that for a dedicated module later on.

If it was fully functional, people would see it as an interchange on a turn around loop which is kind of weird.  Leaving it implied keeps the imagination open and away from making that connection. :p

[Mark W]

I like it!  What type of view block are you thinking about for the loop?

-Dave

Wide open for ideas on that.  As last resort, I figure 8-10" high backdrop for the inside square.  But hoping we can come up with something better like scenery on the module. 

[Mark W]

Began building turnouts tonight.  It's amazing.  In just a few short hours, I turned this....



A blurry, out of focus, poorly lit, incomplete fixture...


Into this...



A sharp, in focus, still poorly lit, but now complete pair of turnouts.

[Mark W]

Got a lot of work done today.










First train!!




Ouchie

[Mark W]

Ready?  On 3.

One.




Two.




Three!